"Certainly you may. Did you like Romeo and Juliet?"
"Not at all, Sir."
"Come, then, here is the Winter's Tale for you. Or stay, here is Cymbeline. You will like much of it, though not all; for you have as nice a Taste in Books, Mrs. Patty, as your Father has in old China. Imogen is one of the purest, loveliest Creations of the Poet. When you get tired of her Companions, turn the Leaf till you come to her, and you won't fall asleep. Her two Brothers, too, in the Cave, are charming. What a fine Lesson is given here, in a mere passing Word of the Physician to the Queen, against Cruelty to dumb Animals! She tells him she experimentalizes with Poisons on Creatures not worth the hanging; and he tells her she hardens her Heart, and proceeding from low degrees to higher, will become careless of inflicting pain and death on superior Natures. Here it is, Mrs. Patty."
I took the Book, curtseyed, and withdrew; thinking that this little Dialogue with the good young Curate after the Noise and Babble of Lady Betty's Party, was like gazing on cool Green, after one's Eyes had been dazzled by garish Sunshine. Since he had lodged with us, to drink fresh Whey and recover his Health, I, being the elder and plainer Sister of the two, had principally waited upon him; though I seldom encroached so much on his Leisure as on this Evening, which I partly ventured on, because I felt I had neglected him during the Afternoon.
Mrs. Gatty passed a restless Night, and rambled a good deal, fancying herself at Home, or what I concluded such; and talking of, and to her Kinsfolk and Intimates by name. What with attending to her and reading my Play-Book, I got not much Rest; but towards Day-Break, she became Quiet; so then I had a good Nap, with my Cloathes loosened, but not off, and awoke refreshed, just in time to go and see the Milk and Bread sent out, which was my daily Duty.
Our's had become a large Concern. At first, we only sold Bread and Buns to those who came to the Shop; then we got on to having two Carts, that went into Town twice a Week; then Whey was wanted, and we had a Cow; but the Cow was not in Milk all the Year round, so then we had two; and then we kept their Calves, Prue and I undertaking to bring them up by Hand; and the pretty Creatures grew so fond of us, that they would run round the Meadow after us if we but held out our Finger to them. In short, our Milk and Whey became in such repute, that we got on from two Cows to six, and at length to Twelve, and had the largest Milk-walk in the neighbourhood. Our man Andrew, who was from Devonshire, looked after the Dairy; and Saunders, who was a Scot, was our Baker; but a Mistress's Eye is worth two Pair of Hands; and one Reason of our Success was undoubtedly that we looked closely after our Business ourselves, no matter how much Money was coming into the Till.
Dr. Elwes used to say, that he never knew better Samples of a genteel Industry than in our Establishment; but doubtless, the good Doctor's Judgment was somewhat biassed by his Partiality for my dear Mother; whom, I am bold to think, if he had known her before she was married, and before he himself had risen from the Ranks, (if one may say so of a Civilian,) he would have gladly made his Wife. What a different Lot for my poor Mother! But then, the whole Story of our Lives would have been altered, and the Divine Purposes quite otherwise manifested; and my poor Father would have gone down the Stream, with ne'er a Hand held out to draw him towards Shore.
Just as I was booking the Loaves put into the Carts, up rides Mr. Arbuthnot on a mighty fine Horse. He was, as good Mr. Matthew Henry says of Prince Adonijah, a pretty, comely young Gentleman; and he lighted down, and gave his Bridle to Peter, and stept up to me, to inquire how fared Mrs. Gatty, saying that he hoped to make himself welcome to Lady Betty by carrying good news, therefore had ridden to Chelsea before Breakfast. I replied she had had a disturbed Night, but was then sleeping; on which, having not much more to say, and seeing me busied, he went his ways.
Just then, my Mother called over the Stair-Head, in rather an agitated Voice, to inquire whether my Father had yet got his Dish of strong green Tea; and knowing that he had come Home somewhat convivial in the Middle of the Night, and was likely to be troubled with Head-Ache, low Spirits, and Ill-Humours this Morning, I hastily went into the back Parlour. But there was dear Prudence already at her Post, fresh as a Primrose, with the Tea brewed, and the Table spread with a tempting variety of Meats, fresh Eggs, and hot Rolls, not one of which had my poor Father the Appetite to taste, but sat with trembling Hands, endeavouring to pour the Cream into his Tea without spilling it. On my coming in, he looks up and says:—
"Have those Rascals brought the Hamper yet?"